The Department of Environmental Protection today issued an appeal for members of the public, especially commercial and recreational fishermen, to assist in the Department’s study of Black Grouper in Bermuda waters.

During June and July, Department staff have been catching Black Grouper and implanting acoustic tags into the belly of the fish before releasing them back into the ocean. These tags transmit a signal that can be detected by a special receiver which has been placed underwater. External yellow “spaghetti” tags, three inches long, have also been inserted into the muscle just under the soft dorsal fin on both sides of the fish.

The placement of additional acoustic tags in Black Grouper and additional underwater receivers will continue in August.

Black Grouper, like most large grouper species, aggregate to spawn (reproduce). These spawning aggregations occur at…

We are gearing up for field season, a bit late this year due to the 11th ICRS which we attended.

Gorgonian corals are to be surveyed across the platform at our many sites. Two graduate interns are also arriving this week to initiate ecological field experiments that will focus on the processes that cause patterns of variation in coral and fish abundance across the lagoonal patch reefs.

Stay tuned as the researchers tell their stories on the BREAM blog in the coming days and weeks.

By Tim Smith and Amanda Dale Environment Minister El James yesterday tabled legislation aimed at protecting Bermuda's coral reefs for future generations. Maximum fines for breaking regulations under the Fisheries Act 1972 will leap from $5,000 to $25,000, with the maximum jail sentence up from one year to two years, under the Fisheries Amendment Act 2008. Mr. James said offenders targeted in the updated law included people who steal "ornaments" from reefs. "Coral reefs they see on this island are probably the healthiest they see anywhere," Mr. James told the House of Assembly. "These precious natural assets will be protected by this legislation so future residents and visitors can receive the numerous benefits which they provide. "The one thing with the marine and the environment you do not get is a second chance. When you rip up a reef, there is no second chance. That&…